Category Archives: Electricity Generation

Chemical hydrogen carriers such as Electriq Fuel are typical circular economy products

AMSTERDAM, 4-Jan-2021 — /EPR ENERGY NEWS/ — Electriq Global, a provider of Hydrogen-Rich, Zero-Emissions energy storage and transportation technologies, and GVG Oil Trade B.V., Benelux-wide Petroleum & Petroleum specialty products wholesalers, announced today their plans to develop and implement Electriq Fuel’s Storage, Distribution, and Return Flow logistics. The parties plan to work with Dutch and EU authorities to obtain all the required regulatory approvals and permits to start commercial distribution in early 2022.

Ernst van Gelder, co-founder of GVG, said: “in recent years we have increased our business with low-emissions and environmentally friendly fuels and lubricants. Partnering with Electriq Global will makes us pioneers in zero-emission fuels, and we are excited at the prospects represented by this business”.

Mr. Baruch Halpert, Executive Chairman of Electriq Global, said “GVG Oliehandel BV will provide us with ready access to the entire Benelux markets. Their logistics solutions are a perfect fit with our fuel requirements and give us the ready-made logistics infrastructure that is required for rapid market development.”

The recent recipient of the Dutch Hydrogen Prize 2020 – Erik Middelman Award, Mr. Jan Piet van der Meer, explained “chemical hydrogen carriers such as Electriq Fuel are typical circular-economy products, requiring logistics both for the fresh fuel delivery and for the return of the spent fuel to the hydrogenation plant. GVG is one of the few wholesalers who handle both streams, so this partnership is expected to be very synergetic to both parties.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

ADVENTURE KINGS SOLAR PANEL RANGE – HOW MUCH POWER DO I NEED?

Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2018-Jan-15 — /EPR ENERGY NEWS/ — When you need to recharge yourself and your 12V system, look no further than an Adventure Kings Solar charging system.

We have pioneered a range that starts from a simple 10W USB solar charger to a fully fledged 250W output array with MPPT Regulation for absolute maximum output to give you the options to power your setup no matter what you take camping with you.

All Adventure Kings Solar panels use Monocrystalline silicone cell construction which is the most efficient panel design available remaining lightweight and compact whilst still outputting effective power for use at home or in the bush.

We have fully standalone systems that include a solar regulator in both hard framed designs or the more flexible folding solar blankets which are excellent for space saving in the back of your vehicle or for emergency use.

We even have a fully customisable 110W Hard mounted system that includes fittings so you can easily and permanently mount it to your vehicle, camper trailer, campervan, caravan or boat with your choice of solar regulator.

We stock both the easy to operate low cost PWM style of regulator that has become the standard across the industry, or you can upgrade to one of our high efficiency, high output MPPT style regulators which gives you up to 30% more efficiency in cloudy or overcast conditions ensuring you get the most out of your solar setup no matter what the weather conditions.

Adventure Kings maintains its reputation for supplying functional camping setups whilst also still offering some of the most affordable solar setups available to the Australian market!

Whatever your 12V setup, Adventure Kings has a Solar charging system to efficiently top up your batteries and run accessories, with zero running costs and zero noise, whilst you kick back and relax and enjoy your favorite campsite in peace and quiet….When you are looking for a solar panel setup, you can’t look past an Adventure Kings Solar setup.

When you’re building a tourer or planning a campsite in your head, solar panels should always be a consideration – they are a source of free, limitless power after all – but how do you know what panel to choose!?

Luckily Adventure Kings has a wide range of panels, that won’t break the bank.

There are two main considerations to make when choosing a solar panel – how much power you use and how much space you have to pack your panel/s.

First, to calculate your requirements, consider how many 12 volt accessories you use at camp.

Generally all electrical products will have a wattage listed (check for a sticker near the power cord) you can use this wattage to calculate the real-time amps the product will use while it’s on. Some products may also list an Amp/Hour rating which simply gives an average on the total amount of amps used per hour the product is turned on. For example, the Adventure Kings 60L fridge/freezer is rated to use less than 1 amp/hour when the interior is set at 5°C and the outside temperature is 32°C.

So let’s work through an example:

You arrive at camp at 6pm on Friday, and it’s 32°C – your fridge is down to temperature at 5°C thanks to being plugged in while you drive and you’re ready for an icy cold beverage while you light the campfire, roll out your swag and set up the awning. Then you set up an Illuminator Strip Light and as the sun sets you turn it on and wind it down for ambient light.

As the temperature drops into the night your fridge will use less power, but every time you open it for a bevvy it has to work to cool back down again, so we’ll assume the fridge is using the rated 0.83Amp/Hours all night and into the morning. 6pm to 8am the fridge has used around 12 amp hours. The Illuminator strip light was on for 5 hours total and uses 0.4A at its low level for a total of 2A

So between 6pm and 8am you used 14 Amps total – whether you have a 98AH or 115AH deep cycle battery you’ve still got plenty of juice.

But throughout the next day your fridge will continue to use power. Between 8am Saturday and 8am Sunday it will use another 24 Amps. Add another 5 hours of strip light use for 2Amps and add in a phone charge using a cig socket USB adapter rated at 12W – that’s another Amp per hour your phone is on charge. In this case your phone is charged in 2 hours so that’s another 2Amps. Plus you use your Thumper to inflate some inner tubes to relax and float in the river – you use your Thumper for 15 minutes. To calculate the amps used per hour, you find the instantaneous power listed on the sticker (45Amps) and because you’ve used it for a quarter of an hour, calculate one quarter of 45. For this example we’ll call it 12Amp/Hours.

So Saturday to Sunday morning 8am you’ve used 40Amp/Hours – combine this with the Friday night total 14Amps and you’re looking at 54Amp/Hours – at this point your Deep cycle battery has used over 55% capacity if you’ve got the 98AH battery, and over 46% capacity if you’re using a 115AH battery.

You’re planning to leave camp at 4pm so the fridge still needs to be powered by your battery for a further eight hours. That’s another 8Amp/Hours, bringing the total weekend use up to 62Amp/Hours. 63% of your 98AH battery and 53% of your 115AH battery – you should definitely add a solar panel to keep those batteries charged!

Now you can look at the output of the different solar panels available.

4WD Supacentre offers a 110W fixed solar panel, a 120W Folding Solar blanket (with PWM regulator) a 160W Folding solar kit (with PWM regulator) and a 250W folding solar panel kit (with PWM regulator). The table below shows their maximum charging amperage (assuming the same PWM regulator for all panels) as well as the estimated total Amp/Hours after 6,8 and 10 hours of sun light.

So even six hours of sunlight on the Saturday and Sunday and your battery will have recharged at least 72A/H with a 110W Fixed Solar Panel (with added PWM regulator.) This would cover your power usage and keep your batteries charged. Of course, this is only a guide and your actual consumption may vary depending on many factors including, but not limited to, the outside temperature, fridge temperature, battery condition, wiring size and condition, solar panel angle and position etc etc.

The second consideration is the amount of space you have in your vehicle – for smaller vehicles, a 120W portable Solar blanket is perfect as it packs down to a compact size and still packs a punch.

For permanent mounting solar panels, the choice is obvious – a 110W fixed solar panel (or two!) These feature a thicker aluminium frame and don’t come with a regulator so you can connect your own, use a DC to DC charger and even connect multiple.

For bigger vehicle where space is less of a priority a 160 or 250 watt folding solar panel is ideal. You can set these at varying angles to catch the sun, and they mean you can park in the shade and have your panel in the sun doing the hard work! They also provide plenty of power for bigger camp setups or hotter conditions where your fridge is working more to keep your drinks cool.

Via EPR Network
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Legislation Currently Being Debated in the 2017 Virginia Assembly Seeks to Correct Federal Injustice and Save Virginia Jobs

Richmond, Virginia, 2017-Jan-19 — /EPR ENERGY NEWS/ — Two Bills introduced into the Virginia General assembly last week raise the hopes of many. Hundreds of Virginians will lose their jobs over the coming months due to inaction on the federal level.

Virginia HB 1891 and SB 1392 seek to remedy the situation.

For years geothermal heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines were treated as a triad and equally endorsed and supported by the government’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. When the Tax Credit was extended in late 2015 for solar and wind it left out Geothermal. Nancy Pelosi and other leaders immediately stated it was a drafting error that would be corrected ASAP. That never happened and we are left wondering, why?

“The government shouldn’t be in the business of picking winners and losers” Virginia Geothermal Heat Pump Association Director Richard Lay said recently. “We compete for the same consumers dollars. When the long standing Federal tax credit was extended last year for solar and wind and geothermal was omitted, we were left with an unfair playing field. Geothermal works better for Virginia than solar or wind. The return on investment is not even close. Side by side we beat them every time, but now our product is $1.00 and theirs is 70¢ and hundreds of people in the VA geothermal industry will lose their jobs because of it.”

Candidates for VA governor in 2017 Republican Senator Frank Wagner (7th district) and Republican Delegate Timothy Hugo (40th district) introduced bills last week to remedy this situation. Whether current state budget deficits keep them from being successful remains to be seen.

Contact-Details:

Virginia Geothermal Heat Pump Association,
12210 Fairfax Town Center Suite 500, Fairfax VA 22033
877-GET-GEO1 (438-4361)
Richard.L@virginiageothermalHPA.org
VirginiaGeothermalHPA.org

Via EPR Network
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Arlen Van Draanen announces AEA Biofuels Development Center

Arlen Van Draanen announced today that Alternative Energy Advisors now offers a full range of biofuels development services at its Biofuels Development Center near Atlanta Georgia. Van Draanen, co-founder of AEA, said “We are pleased to offer our clients a rapid and efficient means to evaluate a full range of process variables without the need to invest substantial capital.” Van Draanen continued “To date, our contracted facility has been successfully deployed to evaluate alternative feedstock strategies and optimize process conditions in the development of cellulosic ethanol technology. In addition, the facility has the capability to offer a wide range of additional biofuels technical support including advanced separation and purification techniques.”

About the Company: Alternative Energy Advisors is a full service consulting, engineering and advisory firm serving the alternative and renewable energy industry. The company is based in Houston with offices in Seattle and Chicago.

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Renewable Home Energy.org Educates and Connects

Renewable energy – if you haven’t noticed, it’s the buzz around the world. We are using an alarming amount of fossil fuels every day; fossil fuels that won’t last forever. Some experts say we will be known as the generation that destroys the earth unless we change our energy behavior now.

“Renewable Energy makes sense from both a financial and a green responsibility” says Todd Sachs, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of www.renewablehomeenergy.org.

“We are committed in educating consumers on how to turn their homes into Renewable Energy Homes. We help by connecting consumers with qualified installers throughout the United States so they can save money on their fast rising energy bills, create more value in their home investment, and join together in reducing dependency on fossil fuels; together reducing the carbon footprint.” Sachs says.

A recent press release from the whitehouse.gov states the following:
“President Obama is committed to an “all-of-the-above” approach that develops all American energy sources in a safe and responsible way and builds a clean and secure energy future. That’s why the President’s plan:

Challenges Americans to double renewable electricity generation again by 2020. In order to double generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources by 2020, relative to 2012 levels, the President called on Congress to make the renewable energy Production Tax Credit permanent and refundable, which will provide incentive and certainty for investments in new clean energy. Instead of continuing century-old subsidies to oil companies, the President believes that we need to invest in the energy of the future. During the President’s first term, clean energy tax incentives attracted billions of dollars in private investment in almost 50,000 clean energy projects, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Permanent extension keeps the momentum building, while creating new jobs in clean energy.”

Once Americans realize just how possible it is to remove their home from the grid completely and/or partially, many will turn to clean energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal for home energy systems. Renewable Home Energy (www.renewablehomeenergy.org) just launched last week and is serving-up a great way to connect homeowners with qualified renewable energy installers throughout the entire United States.

Renewable Home Energy is committed to working with local governments, manufactures and installers to help develop affordable ways for consumers to save money with Renewable Energy to remove them from the grid and reduce the carbon footprint by reducing the usage of the finite fossil fuels.

The process is easy. Just click on www.renewablehomeenergy.org and learn about Renewable Energy for your home. You can also complete a form to connect with a Renewable Energy Installer. You will be contacted by qualified installers in your immediate area. They will review your current energy consumption and suggest the best Renewable Energy alternatives for your home.

There are great tax incentives for you to install renewable energy in your home, and great finance options with 4% or less interest rates for up to 10 year terms for qualified buyers.

Via EPR Network
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npower Launches What’s Your Goal? Initiative

Npower has announced that Clare Balding will lead a line-up of 11 successful women from the world of sport to launch the energy company’s ‘What’s Your Goal?’ initiative, offering young people once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the football industry.

For the 2013 campaign, Clare Balding has joined forces with high profile female professionals who have shot to the top of their game and enjoyed success within the world of football. The likes of Jacqui Oatley and Kelly Smith will join Clare in a bid to encourage more girls and boys to think about a career in the nation’s favourite sport and to continue to boost the profile of sportswomen in the UK, following the success of last year’s Games.

The initiative is designed to encourage teens across the UK to start thinking about their careers. Clare Balding and the ‘What’s Your Goal?’ mentors will showcase the vast and varied jobs available to young people, both on and off the football pitch, demonstrating the range of employment opportunities available.

Working in partnership with The Football League, npower is searching for a ‘dream team’ of 11 ambitious and enthusiastic youngsters to spend a day being mentored by one of the successful sportswomen who have come on board to offer their time, knowledge, and support to the programme, offering them invaluable experience.

Having demonstrated why they should be chosen for one of the coveted roles with a CV and video application, the 11 lucky youngsters will be thrown straight into the action. One budding commentator will get to give their play-by-play account of the match alongside Jacqui Oatley at the Championship Play-off Final, while another will learn what it takes to be a top TV presenter with Clare Balding. Other roles up for grabs include reporting on all the action with Daily Mail sports reporter Laura Williamson and receiving first class professional football training with Arsenal Ladies and Team GB’s Kelly Smith.

In addition, young people can also get the chance to shadow: Everton U17s Ladies Manager Mo Marley, Sheffield United Goalkeeping Coach Leanne Hall, Exercise Scientist for Birmingham Ladies Ellie Maybury, Sports Photographer Georgie Gillard, The Football League’s most senior female referee Sasa Ihringova, MD at St George’s Park Julie Harrington and Ipswich FC Sales Manager Rosie Richardson.

Clare Balding said: “2012 was an amazing year for sporting achievement in the UK, especially for women, so I am delighted that npower will be continuing to keep up the momentum in 2013 and championing female athletes with ‘What’s Your Goal?’.”

Clare McDougall, npower’s head of education and community, added: “Last year’s sporting success had a real impact on young people’s perceptions of female athletes. We want to continue this with ‘What’s Your Goal?’ and encourage young people to think about a career within the football industry by providing them with a line up of 11 inspirational and successful women from the world of sport.”

Giving more young people across the UK a chance to try something new, ‘What’s Your Goal?’ will, again, see npower working with all 72 clubs in The Football League to offer over 350 valuable work experience placements to students in Years 10 – 11 in their local areas.

Students in Years 7 – 11 are invited to apply for the chance to spend a day shadowing one of the high profile experts such as Clare Balding, by simply filling out a job application which is downloadable at www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal.

Via EPR Network
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npower Installs Solar Power To Save Carbon

A large-scale project to install solar panels across eight of its key UK sites was completed by npower between April – July 2012.

Approximately 200 photovoltaic panels, which generate a total of 50kW of electricity, were installed at each site by npower’s Business Energy Services division, while battling the wet and windy weather this summer. The installations ensure that the range of buildings, from one of npower’s power stations at Little Barford in St Neots, to one of its main call centres in Houghton-le-Spring, just outside Sunderland, will benefit from reduced carbon emissions.

As solar PV is an ideal renewable energy technology for most buildings, it suited the npower premises which differed in age and location types from urban to rural surroundings and featured varying roof styles.

The new technology will help npower achieve its target of reducing the carbon emissions from its offices by 38% by 2014. It will also allow npower to generate electricity during daylight hours and export any that is unused back to the Grid, thereby saving both energy and costs. The solar PV is already having an impact on the amount of electricity the offices are taking from the Grid for power. Birch House, an npower office in Oldbury in the West Midlands, which houses around 500 employees has already seen a 16% reduction in power used from the Grid when compared to the previous year thanks to the solar PV and other measures implemented across the site.

The installation of solar PV technology is part of the company’s wider commitment toenergy efficiency. Other measures have included the installation of energy efficient air conditioning units, motion sensor lighting and new recycling facilities.

Dave Horton, property sustainability and capital investment manager from npower, commented: “npower is committed to reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of our sites. This project is designed to help us meet these aims. It is great to see the significant results achieved already at Birch House and across our other sites.

“The comprehensive planning that went into the project was really important to make sure it was completed on time and as efficiently as possible. It was particularly essential as not only did we have to install the solar PV on a variety of buildings and roof styles, we also had to contend with all the elements the great British summer weather threw at us. The project was completed swiftly in less than two weeks and it was crucial disruption was kept to a minimum as the sites were fully operational throughout.”

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npower Reports A £330bn Investment Needed In UK Energy Infrastructure By 2030

The urgent need for up to £330bn of investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure to ensure a secure energy supply, meet carbon emissions reduction targets and protect the UK economy by 2030, is highlighted in a new report from The London School of Economics and Political Science.

The npower Future Report – ‘Energy and the economy: The 2030 outlook for UK businesses’ – reflects upon the need for a balanced focus on economic growth and investment in the energy infrastructure to deliver a low carbon and strong UK economy. It also calls on businesses to act now to ensure they are protected for the future.

Three potential scenarios for the 2030 energy and economic landscape and the implications for UK business are examined in the report; from continued austerity to a sidelining of carbon emissions reduction targets in favour of cheaper energy sources to power the UK and businesses. The report shows how a number of factors will shape what 2030 will mean for UK plc.

Professor Samuel Fankhauser, author of the npower Future Report, Co-Director of the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at The London School of Economics and Political Science and a member of the Committee on Climate Change, commented: “This report shows how fragile and delicate the equilibrium of factors is for protecting the future of the UK energy industry. A slight change of emphasis in policy, a weakening economic picture or a preference for cheaper energy sources over low carbon energy generation could result in very different operating environments for UK businesses. It is crucial UK businesses take action now to overcome the potential challenges they may face.”

Volker Beckers, CEO of RWE npower, commented: “£200bn by 2020 has been the long-held figure recognised as being key to a secure energy future. However, this report shows that almost the same amount again is needed just 10 years later to provide the right environment to balance cost, carbon and continuity of supply. It is therefore crucial that the UK energy industry, Government and businesses work collaboratively to ensure this level of investment is secured and foundations are set for economic and environmental prosperity by 2030.”

Via EPR Network
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Local Museum Gets Juiced Up With Help From npower

Staff from npower and Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery are celebrating the installation of a new £300,000 biomass boiler; replacing the museums two old, inefficient, oil fired boilers, which had come to the end of their useful life after 20 years of service.

The new biomass boiler is expected to give the museum at least 30 more years of heat and power, as well as saving energy and money.

The new boiler has been jointly financed by the npower Juice fund and Doncaster Council with npower financing over two-thirds of the overall cost. The project has been managed throughout by Doncaster MBC Construction Services Team.

Since the npower Juice fund was launched in 2001, it has raised more than £2 million and the money has helped to support renewable energy and community based projects all over the country. The Juice fund also helped three other community based projects over the summer holidays by installing renewable technologies which include solar panels and another biomass boiler.

To help with the celebrations, npower has invited Woodfield Primary School to the museum for a Climate Cops Academy day and a mini energy treasure hunt. Installing the new biomass boiler will help keep the museum warm and safe for many years, keeping Doncaster’s treasures safe for generations to come.

Councillor Cynthia Ransome, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Of the two boilers that were in the museum, one had broken and the other was beyond the end of its economic life, so we are delighted with our new biomass boiler.

“It will help keep the museum powered for many more years to come and enable future generations to enjoy its fantastic exhibitions in warm and comfortable surroundings.”

Matthew Cole, npower’s Project Manager, added: “It’s fantastic that we were able to help Doncaster Museum as it’s a real asset to the community here. Not only will it enable the museum to stay open for at least another 30 years, but it will also save them money.”

Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central said: “It’s fantastic to see Doncaster Museum, npower and the council working together on this project. The new energy-saving measures will provide the museum with years of heat and power using renewable energy.”

Via EPR Network
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The success of the WakaWaka Solar Lamp

In the beginning there was light for all – and a little later there was electric light for, well, only some of us: 1.5 billion people still live in darkness. Dutch startup Off-Grid Solutions makes an end to developing countries’ killing kerosene dependency. They want their high-tech, low-cost WakaWaka solar LED lamp to light up Africa ‘like a Christmas tree’.

Via Kickstarter.com, the general public is now enthusiastically pre-ordering WakaWaka´s for 35 dollars each. The minimal support to contribute to their mission is one dollar. Thanks to this innovative way of crowdfunding, WakaWaka grows at the speed of light .And with it, the dream of providing all Africans with a sustainable light solution becomes more real by the minute.

1.5 billion people live off-grid. They depend on kerosene fuel for their basic lighting needs. Annually millions of children suffer severe burns from accidents with kerosene lamps. The toxic fumes cause even more health problems. World Bank reports that each day 780 million women and children inhale the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes as a result of indoor air pollution.

Fuels for lighting take up to 20% of income of people who try to survive on less than $2 a day. This way, the poor stay poor. But there is light at the end of the tunnel: WakaWaka solar LED light.

The WakaWaka (‘Shine Bright’ in Swahili) solar lamp uses the latest in patented solar technology developed by Intivation, allowing for superior charging in any weather conditions.

Each day of free solar charging gives 16 hours of decent reading light. It has different light intensities and fits on a bottle, stimulating recycling and opening up opportunities for joint promotions. Innovative distribution methods will reach even the most remote rural areas. Various accessories (cell phone chargers, radios, etc.) are already in development, which will further enhance livelihood and help people get out of poverty.

Co-founder Camille van Gestel: ‘I genuinely believe that if you can make a difference, you must. I have never done anything with so much passion. The support and inquiries we are receiving for WakaWaka from all over the world are as stimulating as they are heartwarming. We are doing the right thing.’

Let’s hope this new bright light spreads fast, for all and everybody. LED there be light.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/229055906/wakawaka-is-the-coolest-solar-led-light

http://www.wakawakalight.com

************************************************************************

About Off-Grid Solutions
Founded in 2011 by 4 partners: sustainable entrepreneur, inspirator and guru Maurits Groen, hands-on change maker and entrepreneur Camille van Gestel, carbon emissions consultants Do-Inc, experts emerging markets and finally Paul Naastepad seasoned executive in clean tech industry.

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Aggreko to Power Up and Cool Down Brazil’s Biggest Music Festival

Aggreko, the world leader in the provision of temporary power and temperature control services, has been awarded the contract to provide power and cooling services to Rock in Rio, one of the largest live music festivals in the world. The contract is with the event’s organizers, Dream Factory for the Rock in Rio site, Parque Olímpico Cidade do Rock, or the Olympic Park City of Rock, in Tijuca, south of Rio.

Aggreko will supply 11.5 MW of power – equivalent to the requirement of 11,000 households – which will support broadcasting facilities, sound and lighting. Aggreko will also design and install a 700-tonne cooling package, complete with temporary ducting, for the VIP, catering and press areas.

In 2010, Aggreko supplied power for the foundation stone ceremony which marked the start of work at Parque Olímpico Cidade do Rock, and so, 2011 will mark the second year that Aggreko has worked at the official venue where this year’s edition of Rock in Rio will be held.

“The success of a major event is directly related to the hiring of reliable suppliers,” commented Diogenes Paoli Neto, Managing Director, Aggreko South America. “An event of the caliber of Rock in Rio would be impossible without the guarantee of reliable power. Aggreko is proud to have been asked to contribute our expertise and our generator rentalservices to ensure that the festival is a success, both in Brazil and for viewers around the world.” he said.

Over the past 26 years, Rock in Rio has been a leading fixture on the international musical calendar. This year it takes place over eleven days, including over two long weekends (23rd – 25th September and 30th September – 2nd October) and it will be broadcast to 80 countries, with more than 600,000 people expected to attend.

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Aggreko Again Expands in Western Canada

Aggreko, the global leader in rental power, temperature control and oil-free compressed air solutions, is continuing its expansion in Canada with the opening of a larger service center in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Aggreko first established itself in Fort McMurray in 2009, and is now doubling the size of its local operations. The new 7,000 sq ft facility will host an expanded fleet of rental generators, a larger maintenance yard to better service equipment, and a growing staff of technicians, sales and service personnel.

“Aggreko has served the oil sands industry in Western Canada for more than 10 years and we are excited to root ourselves deeper in the Fort McMurray community,” said Dennis Haller, Vice President, Aggreko Canada. “Our oil and gas, refining and upgrading, and construction customers need partners with a local presence and the capability to provide superior, highly responsive service. We’re proud to expand our service center to meet their growing temporary equipment needs.”

Aggreko will supply the area with all the company’s major rental product lines, including:

• Power generators from 30 kW to 1,500 kW
• New natural gas generators, 65 kW and 1,300 kW
• Temperature-control equipment – chillers, cooling towers, air conditioners and electric heaters
• Oil-free air compressors, both diesel and electric
• Refinery-grade heat exchangers

In addition to expanding its personnel and generator rental fleet, Aggreko will provide customers with remote monitoring capabilities to improve their ability to troubleshoot any operational issue and optimize operating efficiency. The new depot will also provide engineering support from Aggreko Process Services (APS): an experienced process engineering team within Aggreko that helps customers improve their processes and operations to enhance bottom-line performance and address environmental concerns. Unique to the rental industry, the APS team can design and install projects at extremely short notice – and while customers await capital expenditure approval or the delivery of equipment.

“We see great value in being part of the Fort McMurray community and employing local people,” said Sue McGregor, Canada Sales Manager, Aggreko North America. “The increased demand for our services is led by the development in the oil sands, and we continue to explore ways to assist with more local expertise, new technology for remote construction sites, and innovative solutions to reduce emissions and maintenance downtime.”

Aggreko operates additional service centers in Edmonton, Fort St. John, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Sarnia.

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AccessDiscounts.com Offers Westinghouse Ceiling Fans for Summer Season

AccessDiscounts.com, the web’s leading online retailer of commercial lights, grow lights and home lighting, is proud to offer a variety of Westinghouse ceiling fans for the summer months. With dozens of different styles and superior quality, Westinghouse is at the top of the list when it comes to the kind of ceiling fan you want to keep the circulation going in your home or business during the dog days of summer.

“The key to keeping cool in your home or business during the summer months isn’t just to keep the windows open or the A/C on, it’s about keeping the air circulating in a room,” said Christina Roush, spokesperson for Access Discounts. “While portable fans do a decent job at getting the air moving in a room, they pale in comparison to the job that a ceiling fan can do, especially one that is of such high quality as a Westinghouse ceiling fans. A ceiling fan not only gets the air moving, but it also gets the air moving at the ceiling, which almost instantly cools the room from the top down. It doesn’t just allow you to get a cooling breeze from the fan blades, it also allows the air to circulate throughout the room, which is vital for not just keeping the temperatures down in the summer time, but also taking care of any of those stagnant odors that tend to occur. Plus, operating your ceiling fan is a lot cheaper than keeping your A/C unit on 24/7.”

AccessDiscounts.com features nearly 100 different styles of Westinhouse ceiling fans. With superior innovation, style and durability, Westinghouse ceiling fans have a reputation for being long lasting and efficient, all while blending into the natural décor of a room. AccessDiscounts.com offers the latest styles and designs from Westinghouse including industrial commercial ceiling fans, energy saving fans, oak fans, vintage-style fans, and much more, all for a lot less than you would find in stores. You can find a full listing of Westinghouse ceiling fans at www.accessdiscounts.com/rceilfan.html.

Offering the best prices and stellar customer service, AccessDiscounts.com stocks the highest quality grow light systems, bulbs, ballasts, reflectors and accessories to satisfy everyone from those trying indoor gardening for the first time, to those serious gardeners looking to grow the plumpest, juiciest tomatoes. With dozens of systems which fit any individual need or price range, people can grow their gardens in their living rooms, bedrooms, office, or even inside a closet.

For a limited time, customers can receive a 5% discount on all grow light purchases over $999 and free shipping on orders over $1,499. Check www.accessdiscounts.com for more details.

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Aggreko Increases Annual, Demand-Based Spending By £30m

Aggreko, the mobile generator company set to supply power for London’s 2012 Olympics, has pledged an additional £30 million in spend this year, based on strong demands for equipment in its international division. It will be the second time the company has increased its demand-based spending in 2011, following a £70 million increase in April.

Five years ago, the company’s international power projects accounted for 29 per cent of profits; by 2010, that figure had risen to 44 per cent.

The Glasgow-based company confirms that international demand grew by 22 per cent in the first half of this year alone, while local business saw an underlying increase of 17 per cent. The firm said that, based on strong revenues, it now expects underlying profits to be a little better than the 20 per cent prediction it made in April. However, the group also foresees some of the profit growth to be offset by the weak dollar on earnings.

Aggreko, which was one of the first companies to supply Japan with temporary power equipment following the tsunami earlier this year, has become the FTSE 100’s best performing stock of the past five years.

Aggreko employs more than 5,000 staff in 148 locations worldwide, and rents generators to provide temporary power and cooling systems for events. The company has provided power for the football World Cup in South Africa and the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and will provide about 220 megawatts of power for the London 2010 Olympics in a £37m contract.

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Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): Millions of Losses with Wrong Components

According to calculations by DLR (German Aerospace Center) the increase in yield resulting from annealed parabolic mirrors over a period of 25 years amounts to more than seven million Euros. This is based on independent figures and on the company’s practical experience with more than seven million solar mirrors that have been installed in the field for 30 years already.

In the industry it is discussed whether CSP solar mirrors made from tempered or annealed glass achieve a better overall performance. Manufacturers of tempered mirrors advertise lower costs for mirror replacement. This calculation fails to take account however of the higher plant yield that solar mirrors made of annealed glass achieve owing to their better precision collector interception.

The key parameters for the yield of a CSP plant are the bending properties of the mirrors. The basis for assessing the bending properties of a solar mirror is the focus deviation (FDx). This measures the frequency distribution of the real focus deviation in transversal (x) direction of the reflected beam from the ideal focul line of the collector parabola. Consequently, the lower the FDx value, the higher the plant yield. According to the calculations of the DLR each millimetre of decreased scattering loss amounts to an additional plant yield of 11.25 million Euros1 over a period of 25 years.

Based on these data, FLABEG Holding GmbH, the market leader in the field of glass finishing and the leading international manufacturer of solar mirrors has made the following calculation:

Yield and cost summary for a 50 MW plant with 23,000 tubes and 200,000 mirrors

Additional yield due to better precision collector interception (FDx): Annealed + 7,875.000 €1 Tempered 0

Costs for mirror replacements due to glass breakage:
Annealed – 650,000 € Tempered – 42,500 €
Costs for absorber tube replacements due to glass breakage: – Annealed 65,000 €
Tempered 0

Total: Annealed + 7,160.000 € Tempered – 42,500 €

Additional yield of the plant with annealed solar mirrors after 25 years: 7,117,500 €

Bases of calculation:
Average mirror breakage rate: annealed 0.20 %2, tempered 0.01 %3
Average absorber tube breakage rate: annealed 0.025 %2, tempered 0 %3
Precision rate / focus deviation: annealed FDx < 8 mm4, tempered FDx < 8.7 mm3

1Mean values according to calculations by the German Aerospace Center, reference
values: plant capacity 50 MW, period of observation 25 years, nominal glass
thickness 4 mm
2Average values according to KJC/Harper Lake, period of observation 10 years,
nominal glass thickness 4 mm
3Tempered glass manufacturer’s indications
4 Current average focus deviation of FLABEG parabolic solar mirrors

The result shows that during long-term observation, the annealed solar mirrors are markedly more profitable: More than seven million Euros of additional plant yield is achieved over the period of 25 years.

Axel Buchholz, CEO of FLABEG Holding GmbH, is able to confirm this calculation based on independent figures from his own practical experience: “Competitors advertise with extrapolations. In contrast, our solar mirrors have been in the field for 30 years already and have proven their durability and constantly high performance”. Another item of practical experience to be borne in mind: “Glass breakage generally arises only at the corners or edge of a mirror. Tempered glass shatters into a thousand individual pieces in this case, which may result in considerable damage to other components in the field. Our annealed mirrors on the other hand continue to remain operational”.

FLABEG, founded in 1882, is an independent company with 13 facilities in Europe, America and Asia. FLABEG is active in the commercial sectors of automotive mirrors, solar mirrors and technical glass; specializing in all processes of glass finishing. As the pioneer of solar technology with a worldwide network, FLABEG produces mirrors for all CSP-applications – Parabolic Trough, Dishes, Tower and Linear Fresnel. Due to latest coating technologies our solar mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity of more than 95%. FLABEG sets technological standards in terms of the company’s core competencies – bending and coating.

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Wildcat Publishing Launches The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010

New Delhi, November 2010 – Wildcat Publishing Inc. has launched its inaugural book on India – The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 – a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the country’s energy industry. In partnership with the Petroleum Federation of India (PETROFED) and benefiting from the assistance of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the book was produced by a team of international journalists based in the country for more than 3 months and officially launched during Petrotech 2010, in the presence of S. Sundareshan, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and R.S Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 draws together interviews, articles and resources dedicated to every segment of the country’s energy industry, including exploration and production, downstream and refining, oilfield services and banking and finance. It highlights the path of India ‘s energy industry at a time of fast development, marked by success at home and recognised international expansion. The 197-page book showcases the views and opinions of the industry’s most influential figures, including S. Sundareshan , Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Vikram Singh Mehta, Chairman Shell India, B.M. Bansal, Chairman, IndianOil, P.M.S Prasad, Executive Director, Reliance Industries, N.M Borah, Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India.

“This book comes at a turning point for the Indian energy sector,” said Gilles Valentin, Editorial Director of The Oil & Gas Year . “The country has developed its cutting edge know-how, domestic production and global reach all in parallel and in a very spectacular manner. This shows the ample potential for more success ahead.”

The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 gives in-depth coverage on India ‘s aggressive push to reduce its dependency on hydrocarbons imports. The country’s offshore upstream successes, thanks to its New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and the push to develop alternative sources of energy, from unconventional gas to renewable and nuclear energy are covered and explained in The Oil & Gas Year India 2010. In total, the editorial team met with nearly 100 individuals and companies featured in the book. With 197 pages of interviews, viewpoints, articles, maps, companies and project highlights, investors spotlights and other key resources, this is the most complete and up-to date book ever published on the Indian oil & gas sector.

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Scotland Leads EU Partnership Launch of The Good Practice Wind Project is Welcomed By Wind Turbine Manufacturer Gaia-Wind.co.uk

A partnership aimed at the increased opportunity for and construction of both onshore and offshore wind developments has been launched. The Scottish led group of eight EU nations, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Ireland, Norway, and Belgium, also benefits from the contribution of an additional 17 partners, including academics, local authorities, power companies and consultants.

The partnership hopes to assist the European Union reach its 2020 carbon emission reduction targets on time. Scotland appear to be well placed to advise on such issues, having already reached the halfway point in their own campaign to cut carbon emissions by 42% (a shade higher than other European and US targets) by the beginning of the next decade.

Leading Small Wind Turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind has welcomed the launch of the Good Practice Wind Project. Managing Director Johnnie Andringa said:

“We particularly welcome the drive to enable communities to play their part in building a renewable energy future. However, with Scottish elections ahead, we must watch out for ‘tinkering politician syndrome’.

“At Gaia-Wind the big technological advances we are developing today will not show up in our products for at least 3 years. A politician changing the rules of the game while we are doing our work would be disastrous.”

The reservations evident in Andringa’s statement regarding the perhaps meddlesome activities of politicians should be allayed somewhat by the apparent determination of Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather, who launched the partnership, to build upon the renewable energy potential of Europe.

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Wind Turbine Manufacturer Gaia-Wind Welcome The News Of Scottishpower Renewables Wind Farm Expansion

Following news that Scotland are half way to achieving their 2020 climate target, with a 20% drop in carbon emissions since 1990, the announcement of a major expansion to the Whitelee wind farm south of Glasgow provides a reaffirmation of the importance of onshore wind power to Scotland’ s development.

In 2008, Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor began producing electricity. Currently, the 140 turbines in situ are capable of providing enough energy to power 180,000 homes. With the planned expansion, the power generation of the site will increase from 322MW to a staggering 539MW – enough to power 300,000 homes.

World leading small and domestic turbine manufacturers Gaia-Wind view this development as a highly positive step toward the consolidation and continued progress of the Scottish contribution to a global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A Gaia-Wind spokesperson, commenting on Scotland’s latest commitment to renewable energy said that:

“Any onshore wind developments are good news, and with the recent milestone reached in the Scottish climate change agenda, the extension at Whitelee is a further indication of the dedication of the Scottish authorities to producing renewable energy through wind power for a greater proportion of the population.”

Whilst Whitelee exists in its present state as the largest onshore wind farm in Europe, the proposed expansion will elevate the site to one of the largest in the world. Commenting on the monumental nature of the project, UK Director of ScottishPower Renewables, Simon Christian, explained that:

“By itself at 217MW (the expected increase in power generation), the extension would be one of the largest onshore wind farms in the UK, so we are starting another major construction project in Scotland.”

This major project is the latest instance of Scotland’s rigorous and innovatory approach to renewable energy production.

With almost 25% of Scotland’s electricity demand supplied by renewables throughout 2008, it is evident that the Scottish renewable energy sector is playing a leading role in the campaign to reduce emissions. A significant degree of investment from government, businesses, the industry and individual investors has enabled the delivery of vastly reduced carbon emission levels.

Continued investment is a highly significant factor in the field of renewable energy. A spokesperson from Gaia-Wind has in fact commented on the need for “governmental stability in policy making for the continued investment in wind power, and the renewables sector in general.”

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Small Wind Turbine Manufacturer Gaia-Wind Welcomes First Minister’s Drive For World’s First Floating Wind Farm

Domestic wind turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind supports the Scottish Government’s backing of floating wind farms that will help bring the commercial viability and benefits of wind turbines to an even bigger audience.

Following discussions between First Minister Alex Salmond and Norwegian energy giant Statoil, Scotland could soon become home to the world’s first floating wind farm.

In a bid to encourage Statoil to use Scottish waters to test and develop the commercial viability of their deep water Hywind floating turbines, the First Minister has suggested locations off the coast of Aberdeenshire or the Isle of Lewis.

Scottish waters as a whole are thought to offer a quarter of Europe’s entire offshore renewable potential.

Should the project go ahead, it is estimated that offshore wind power could create around 20,000 jobs, £30 billion in investment as well as a much needed move towards energy security; a point domestic wind turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind feels is long overdue, as a spokesperson explains:

“With the finite nature of fossil fuels becoming an increasingly pressing matter, we need to act now to create a world that can function just as easily from renewable energy as it does oil.

“The forward thinking nature of the Scottish Government shows the wheels are in motion to do so.

“One of the biggest incentives of large scale renewable energy – such as plans for a floating wind farm – is the idea that Scotland could secure and harness its own energy resources meaning the need to rely on power from other countries could become redundant. The idea of Scotland producing power independently is a very attractive prospect indeed.”

With the Scottish Government backing wind energy all the way, it’s hoped that the increasing prominence of large scale wind farms will also enlighten home owners and small businesses to the benefits of wind turbines on a domestic level.

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ENER-G Pumps Up Sustainable Heating And Cooling Operation

ENER-G has launched a new ENER-G Sustainable Technologies division – specialising in the design, installation and maintenance of heat pumps.

Through its exclusive partnership with four leading manufacturers, the company is providing one of the widest selections of ground source, gas absorption, air source and water loop heat pump technologies in the UK.

The new division expands ENER-G’s existing ground source heat pump operation into a building services focused business that can provide total heat pump solutions for all types of heating and cooling applications utilising heat pumps ranging from 1kW to 1000kW capacity.

ENER-G Sustainable Technologies has relocated its Nottinghamshire base from Ollerton into larger premises in Mansfield, which will accommodate its anticipated year-on-year growth.

Managing Director, Paul Burley said: “Our in-house expertise and resources means we can see the whole job through from initial feasibility through to project handover. We operate our own drilling rigs and offer complete in-house services from specialist design, through to complete project management, installation and maintenance of heat pump technologies. We also have the ability to supply bespoke manufactured heat pumps in a variety of sizes to accommodate complex customer briefs, particularly where space is restricted.”

The introduction of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in April 2011 is expected to stimulate further demand in the sector, providing significant subsidy payments of up to 7.5 pence per kWh for 15 to 23 years that will dramatically reduce the payback period on ground source and air source heat pump technology.

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